Columbia cancels university-wide graduation ceremony

Excerpt:

Columbia University has cancelled the main graduation ceremony it had planned for next week amid rising concerns that continued pro-Palestinian student protests across the US could pose safety concerns on American campuses.

…

The decision caps weeks of upheaval at the Ivy League school, which included raids by New York City police, who were asked twice by university leadership to break up an encampment and remove student protesters from a building they briefly occupied.

…

Some students had hoped the May 15 ceremonies could serve as a moment for the embattled Columbia president, Minouche Shafik, to bring the community together.

One student enrolled in history and Jewish thought said Shafik could use the opportunity to “teach” students about why violence sparked by the protests was “wrong”. When asked whether he thought the protesters would be receptive to that message, he said “no” — but “she needs to try anyway”.

…